Linda K. Schaefer, 80, of Spearfish, SD, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Avantara St. Cloud in Rapid City.

Linda was born on the 10th day of October 1943, in Gary, Indiana to Hattie and Norman Sheldon. She was the oldest of three sisters, followed by Norma and Debbie. In her adolescence, the Sheldon family moved to eastern South Dakota, and they eventually moved to Redfield, South Dakota. Here she attended Redfield schools and graduated in 1961.

After graduation, Linda made the move to Aberdeen, the town where she met her future husband, Victor Schaefer who was fresh out of the Navy. Vic and Linda married on the 2nd of August 1964. Their union blessed them with three children, David Lawrence (Redfield), Tracy Lynn (Watertown), and Michael Norman (Aberdeen). When the children were all grade school-aged, they made another move to Huron, SD. During their time here, she enjoyed raising her children, being an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, managing rental properties, and cleaning homes. After their youngest, Michael graduated, they picked up their lives again and made one last move to the Black Hills. This decision was heavily influenced by their love for the area. The Schaefer/ Sheldon family loved to gather at Silver City to camp and spend quality time together every summer. It was in the town of Spearfish she found her long-time job working for Prairie Harvest. Her role shifted over the years from making boxes to cleaning the offices. She was often found chatting with the employees and bringing a smile to anyone who came across her path. She held her position for over 20 years and made the difficult choice to retire in early 2020.

Linda had a passion for nature. She always enjoyed camping, hiking, going for walks, birdwatching, and gardening. From a young age, she was always out digging in the dirt. For most of her life, she and Vic tended to fruit and vegetable gardens. On sunny days you would find her outside planting flowers and tending to her many outdoor plants. When she wasn't in nature, you would find her being an active member of the church. Linda was a woman of faith who really cherished her relationship with god. After their relocation to the hills, they became members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Spearfish. She was a member of the bible study group, as well as several church committees. Through her actions and words, she exemplified the teachings of the Scriptures, leaving an imprint on the hearts of all who knew her. Linda found solace and strength in her relationship with God. She believed in giving back to her community. Linda often donated to charities throughout the year. On her 67th birthday, she became the proud parent of Mandy, the pug. They spent over thirteen wonderful years together.

Linda is survived by her sister Debbie (Dean) Wallace of Pierre, her husband Victor of Spearfish, their son David (Lori) Schaefer of Rapid City, daughter Tracy (Dan) Davidson of Sturgis, and son Michael Schaefer of Watertown. She is also survived by three granddaughters, Miranda (Darius) Hart of Oklahoma City, Taylor (John) Jordan of Sturgis, and Paige Schaefer of Watertown, as well as three great-grandchildren (Gracelyn, Nora, Madden),  Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Hattie and Norman Sheldon, as well as her sister Norma Brugman.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Spearfish, SD.  The burial will be at 1:30 PM in Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Linda's name to the Bella Pregnancy Resource Center in Spearfish.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish.